For the second year in a row the Houston First Corporation (HFC) awarded Matching Grants for tourism-related programs developed by local and regional organizations through the Tourism Marketing Matching Grant Program (MGP). This initiative, designed to bring together tourism organizations in Greater Houston and surrounding areas, is part of a larger effort launched in 2015 to increase leisure travel to our region.

All of the applications received for the Marketing Matching Grant Program were reviewed by a working group comprised of staff and local industry professionals.

“As we promote Houston as a travel destination to attract more visitors, it is important that we also focus on development of leisure travel product,” said Jorge Franz, Senior Vice President of Tourism for Visit Houston. “The Matching Grant Program, regular educational seminars and our annual Tourism Summit all play an important role in encouraging residents and tourism professionals to collaborate and develop new initiatives.”

The 2017 Tourism Marketing Matching Grant Program encourages partners to focus on projects that highlight historic, cultural or niche markets. One of the goals is to increase visibility for museums, attractions, art groups and other Houston experiences to potential visitors more than 150 miles away. Such visitors are more likely to stay in hotels, dine out and experience other activities in the city than those on a day-trip.

Houston Cinema Arts Society will be partnering up with the Four Seasons Hotel, The Houston Wave, and On the Mark Communications for Cinema Arts Discovery Weekend. Through this weekend package, HCAS seeks to expand promotion of the 2017 Houston Cinema Arts Festival with a full Houston arts experience combining an all-access festival pass with a luxury hotel, gourmet dining, and access to an array of arts and culture experiences. The weekend will include arts and culinary tours with The Houston Wave encouraging visitors to further discover Houston during our annual Festival, November 7 – 14.